[Sims 3] Resources for modders (intermediate to advanced)

[JoshQ]

Resources for modders (intermediate to advanced)

 

My objective is to share some of the files that I use as guide/aid in my projects; at worst they will save you a couple of minutes. I can’t share them all at once so check from time to time for updates.

 

Now this is very important, these files are intended for people familiarized with Sims 3 modding, this means texture manipulation, object cloning, mesh editing and bone assignments/morphs as the minimum.

 

There’s not a single tutorial that will teach you everything in one session (that I know at least), so for those who are beginning my recommendation is to start here, here and here (this one is not related to Sims 3, is useful nonetheless). The rest will come from practice and searching through forums like ModTheSims.

 

90% of the shared stuff will be in .wso format ready to be used in TSRWorkshop. You can use Cmar’s Meshtoolkit 1.4.2 1.4.4 (check message #37 for the download link) to convert them to .simgeon or .obj. Also, if you haven’t noticed before, all my stuff is directed to femsims.

 

If you don’t mind my broken english you can ask me for assistance.

 

RESOURCES:

Jan-17: Body Mesh Guide

Jan-17: Modified BarbieBoobs

Jan-28: Files for Copying Morphs and Bone Assignments 

[JoshQ]

Body Mesh Guide

I use this file for accessory clothes (stockings, corsets, chokers etc.) I think you could also use it to make non-pervy and veeery simple garments (but I know nothing about it ). I made this image using the Tool Texture Coordinator from Milkshape3D, the Snipping Tool from Windows 7, Photoshop (or your favorite image editor that supports .dds images) and Ephemera’s “Fresh” Skin (also used the default nude body and feet).

 

On the left side you will notice 4 little arrows:

• Purple: indicates where the legs end and the feet starts
• Yellow: indicates my limit for stockings, ok you can go a little bit higher but requires effort to limit the texture stretching
• Green: indicates where the torso ends and the legs starts
• Red: everything above this line (mesh/textures) will stretch along the breast (especially for those bigger than the game limits)

Also the image has 3 areas delimited by black lines:

• a. this is the texture space for tops
• b. this is the texture space for bottoms
• c. this is the texture space for shoes

Of course if you know how you can use the extra space around the body meshes and some other tricks, these only show the basics.

[JoshQ]

Modified BarbieBoobs

 

These are the original breasts created by Electronic Arts themselves, also known as BarbieBoobs. I only replaced the bone assignments with those from CmarNYC’s 3D breasts. What’s the difference? Being able to work with sliders to magnify their size exponentially, look at the pic (yes, I know this is the third time straight I’ve posted it ).

(left size: default boobs showing deformation because of sliders. Right side: same breasts with bone assignment from Cmar’s).

 

The easiest way to use this file is opening TSRWorkshop, select a bra or top swimsuit (a simple one, ruffles or other 3D decorations will need to be adapted/attached) and simply import this mesh. You won’t notice any difference because the program doesn’t emulate custom sliders, but in-game:

Above is the afTopTp11Lingerie from Into the Future, on the right side you can see the modified mesh in action. Sadly I haven’t found a way to adapt the textures to avoid stretching, and probably will never be, so try not to zoom too much  There's also lots of other and complex ways to use this mesh, that depends on you.

 

I’m sharing LOD1 and LOD2 meshes with their respective morphs, except for pregnant, EA includes it but isn’t really the correct one… 

orig_aftopnude_lod1-2_wCmarBones.zip

[JoshQ]

Files for copying Morphs and Bone Assingments

 

These ones are tricky to use. You need to know how to use the “Auto tools for WSO” from Cmar’s Meshtoolkit to take advantage of them, also the results will vary depending on the mesh you’re making or editing. Also I know that if you use a .simgeon the methodology varies, if it’s better or worse I don’t know, I only know that I’m already familiarized using .wso and works for me.

 

The “normal” procedure is to use the original mesh you’re basing your CC to “copy” their morphs and bone assignments. But when you’re making additions, subtractions or attaching plenty of parts from different places you need to look for another solution, this is especially true in my case where I edit clothes to show naked skin and boobs with 3d nipples.

 

I’m sharing 5 files, I use them to copy the morphs and bone assignments for almost all my edits, the exceptions are the texture accessories (don’t need them) and high heels (require separate files).

 

FILES:

 

cmar_afTopNudeMorphingNipples: file extracted and compiled from the original 3D boobs by CmarNYC, it has its original morphs and bones.

 

original_af_nudebottom: original nude legs and buttocks created by EA, it has its original morphs and bones (except for pregnant).

 

cmar_afnudebody_BODY: this is the original bottom attached to Cmar’s 3d breasts and torso. Why I removed the arms? Because the 3d boobs has extra vertices, that means it will surpass the bone assignment limit and will deform the body, normally the left wrist but also can create gaps between seams, or worse. By detaching the arms and creating two mesh groups you can go below the limit. Now, it seems this only works for “simple clothes” like the Sexy Rabbit or Rocker Choker, I couldn’t make it work for the Revealing Robe so more research is needed. This file has its original morphs and bones except for pregnant.

 

cmar_afnudebody_ARMS: When I made the Sexy Rabbit/Rocker Choker I just attached this file as the second mesh group and that was it, but after the problems with the robe I believe it can’t be used to copy morphs/bones in more complex projects. This file has its original morphs and bones except for pregnant.

 

cmar_afnudecompletebody_ONLYMORPHS: This is the complete package (legs, 3d breasts and arms) and as its name says it only contains morphs (except for pregnant). I created it to copy the morphs for the clothe part of my Revealing Robe so I’m convinced it can be used for all types of projects. What about the bones? I copied them in two steps, I first used the nude bottom to copy bones below the waist, this also “overwrites” the rest of the body, that’s easily corrected by opening the .wso and clearing all the bones above the waist seam. Then before attempting to copy the bones from the torso I select the “Replace only empty bone assignments” option in Auto tool.

 

 

What about the BarbieBoobs? Since I discovered the “Modified BarbieBoobs” I just attach them to a nude bottom when I want to make a body edit, they work well with the “onlymorphs” file and the “bones in two steps” method.

 

Where’s the pregnant morph? For some reason I just wasn’t able to include it, every time I did it caused Meshtoolkit to crash, so for now I’m excluding it.

Files_for_copying_Morphs_and_Bones.zip

[lungpaul]

thanks for the info I might give it a go some time

[lungpaul]

thanks again